Jonah
96 lines
4.6 KiB
Markdown
96 lines
4.6 KiB
Markdown
# CSG Picker-Shipper Helper (Parts & Invoice Lookup)
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A standalone Windows desktop application designed for warehouse packers and shipping associates. This application provides a fast, simple interface for looking up inventory parts, pulling invoice data from QuickBooks, weighing packages, fetching shipping rates, and verifying picks on the warehouse floor using mobile barcode scanners.
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The application is built in Python using **CustomTkinter** for a modern, touch-friendly UI and is compiled to a single standalone executable via **PyInstaller**.
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---
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## 🚀 Key Features & Implementation Status
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### 1. Parts Inventory Lookup (Packer Workflow)
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* **Status:** Fully Implemented
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* **Description:** Allows packers to fuzzy-search for parts by SKU, Description, or Interchange numbers. Data is synced periodically from a network CSV into a local SQLite database for instant search performance.
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* **Details:**
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* Displays Part Image (prioritizes local SMB shares over public URLs).
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* Shows Customer Price, Location, Quantity Available, Grade, and Warranty Info.
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* One-click copying of full SKUs.
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### 2. Invoice & Shipping Lookup (QuickBooks Integration)
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* **Status:** Fully Implemented
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* **Description:** Integrates with QuickBooks Desktop (via QBFC and `qb_efficiency` bridge) to pull recent invoices and customer data.
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* **Details:**
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* Allows searching by Customer Name or Invoice Number.
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* Extracts exact billing and shipping addresses.
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* Provides a single "Copy full address" button formatted properly for third-party shipping software.
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### 3. Mobile Picking Client (CSG Part Verifier)
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* **Status:** Fully Implemented
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* **Description:** A lightweight background Flask web server (`picker_server.py`) runs on port 5001 alongside the desktop app, serving a mobile-friendly HTML5 application.
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* **Details:**
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* Mobile operators (using Android/PC) can access the picker client via the host's IP address.
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* Uses device cameras to scan Invoice QR codes to pull up digital pick lists.
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* Verifies picked items by scanning Box/Part QR codes, providing immediate audio success/error feedback.
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### 4. USB Postal Scale Integration
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* **Status:** Fully Implemented
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* **Description:** Natively integrates with standard USB HID weighing scales (e.g., Stamps.com, Dymo, Mettler Toledo).
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* **Details:**
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* Uses the `hid` package to read real-time weights (oz, lbs, grams) directly from the USB scale without needing third-party drivers.
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* Fails gracefully if no scale is attached.
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### 5. Live Shipping Rates & Label Generation
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* **Status:** Fully Implemented
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* **Description:** Connects to the **ShipEngine API** and **FedEx APIs** to retrieve live shipping rates based on the package weight and dimensions.
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* **Details:**
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* Fetches dimensional weight quotes.
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* Can generate standard shipping labels or custom internal GDI-rendered labels (via `labels.py`).
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* GDI labels include generated QR codes (Invoice Number for shipping, SKU for parts) to facilitate the mobile picking workflow.
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* Keeps a local SQLite history of printed labels (`label_history.py`).
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### 6. Design & Cut File Discovery
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* **Status:** Fully Implemented
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* **Description:** Facilitates rapid opening of CNC/Laser design files associated with specific SKUs.
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* **Details:**
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* `cut_files.py` scans configured SMB network folders on a background thread for matching Roland cut files (`.eps`, `.ai`, `.svg`, `.dxf`, etc.) and LightBurn files (`.lbrn`, `.lbrn2`).
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* One-click launching of the correct design file directly in the system's default design software.
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---
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## 🛠 Architecture & Tech Stack
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* **UI Framework:** CustomTkinter (Python)
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* **Database / Cache:** SQLite (Built-in, ensures instant search speed by preventing direct QB calls during lookup)
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* **Search Engine:** `rapidfuzz` for highly tolerant string matching.
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* **API Servers:** `Flask` handles the mobile picking server.
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* **QuickBooks Bridge:** `pywin32` / `QBFC` integration (via local `qb_efficiency` service).
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* **Build & Deployment:** `PyInstaller` (Generates `PartsLookup_Setup.exe` via Inno Setup).
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* **Barcode Scanning:** `html5-qrcode` library for the mobile web client.
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---
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## 📦 Building & Running
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**Development Server:**
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```cmd
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run_dev.bat
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```
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Starts the application from source in development mode.
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**Standalone Picker Server:**
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```cmd
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python run_picker.py
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```
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Starts just the Flask mobile picking server on port `5001` for testing.
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**Building the Executable:**
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```cmd
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build.bat
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```
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Generates a standalone `PartsLookup.exe` using PyInstaller.
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**Building the Installer:**
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```cmd
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build_installer.bat
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```
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Requires Inno Setup. Compiles the `.iss` file to generate `CSGPackerShipperHelper_Setup.exe` for end-user distribution. |